It is often said that there are very few guarantees in life. Our lives are in flux and so too are our relationships over time. In family law, when those common laws or marital relationships breakdown, the legal issue of entitlement to spousal support may come into play. Once entitlement has been demonstrated and the

The guests and venue are confirmed and the big day is fast approaching. While there are cultural and societal norms in terms of when to send save-the-date notifications, honeymoons, and RSVP postcards, many marrying couples may be unsure of the optimal time to establish and make edits to their marriage contracts. As with standard pre-marriage

Financial support is the statutory right of a child reliant on their separated or divorced parents for their accommodation, food, clothing, education, medical care, and other needs. Recent amendments to the relevant legislation in Ontario broadens the definition of who is a parent in today’s societal and family context. A Parent’s Obligation to Provide for

Collaboration is a principled cooperative process between spouses and parents and their family-focused trained advisors. The team of interdisciplinary professionals offers their skills, education, and expertise to your family during its transition to a cohabitation partnership, marriage, or upon separation. The collaborative team’s endpoint to develop with the family their fulfilling substantive resolution for their

1. Uncertain and undeclared goals: The collaborative path starts with each parent or partner stating in clear terms what they each want to accomplish together. They each declare their intention to be transparent in presenting their needs, wishes, and dreams. Obscured or unclear goals create doubt and suspicion. Railroading discussions and dismissing urgent problems requiring immediate

This article originally appeared in the April 10th edition of the Law Times. Click the link below to open a PDF version of the article. Technology helps, hinders in custody disputes (Law Times article)

Being a party to a separation agreement may require you to secure a child or spousal support obligation in a manner that is reliable and enforceable in the event that one former spouse predeceases the other before the support obligation terminates. There are a number of options to fund a contractual support obligation. Two common

Parents who are struggling to develop a balanced, functional, and appropriate shared residential and decision-making arrangement for their children after separation or divorce may find it to be a difficult exercise. Not only are there logistical considerations, such as how to pick up and drop off the children at educational facilities, activities, and health centers,

Overhearing shop talk at the family picnic, the cousins and siblings who aren’t involved in the daily family business operations feel isolated and ostracized. Separating spouses may strain the lines of authority at work seeking allies and emotional support. How can entrepreneurial families strike the right chord on dissonant members and maintain secure and flourishing

Divorce can be a life-altering event shaping a spouse’s perception of the world around them. During the process of divorce, separating spouses can receive input from several different sources, including their family law lawyer. With so many influencers having a rooted interest in the separation, it is easy for clients to become overwhelmed by the

It is a common refrain from traditional spouses in a long-term marriage with three or four children: We decided to stay together for the children’s sake. Now that the children have “launched’ and are on their own, we’ve decided to divorce. With winter holidays approaching and extended family gatherings being planned, these can be tough

Recent advances in technology have afforded more people the ability to have instant access to information. One result is the wide dissemination of misinformation and inaccurate advice which when mistaken for and relied upon as valid legal advice can lead to poor decision making on important family law matters. In life-altering transitions, such as divorce,